My Niche

As a teenager, I wanted to be a writer who could write better than Shakespeare.  Why not aim high? Perhaps, one day, someone will do it.

Maybe I was merely terrified to find a “real” job, and writing seemed fun. Also, I could do it without leaving my home. What could be better?

I remember being told that first rule of writing was, “Write what you know.”  I was sixteen. Therefore, I knew just about everything, which really meant that I knew just about nothing. And when you know not and know not that you know not…you won’t write anything of value. I don’t believe, as many do, that shared ignorance has value.

As it turns out, I did become a writer — of (mostly business) emails. Back in 1956, If you’d told me that’s what I’d be spending my days writing, I wouldn’t even have known what an email was.

Early in my law career I received a compliment from the wife of another attorney. She said that I wrote great business letters.  Well, that’s one very practical use for writing.

How do you know when you’ve found your niche in life?  There is no formal system or test you can take to find out.  No one will send you a telegram (do we still have those?) to let you know if you’re even on the right track.

Your life is not like a democracy. It isn’t ruled by “the people.” It’s an autocracy, only one person is making all the decisions.  As far as your own life is concerned you are all three branches of government combined into a single body. This means that you get to plan, execute, and judge your own life.

Good luck with that. Especially the judgmental part. I know that most of us try to do our best all the time, but I give myself, and you, permission to take a rest. Just enjoy your day. Remind yourself what you are looking forward to and then give permission to do it, even if it’s only Trader Joe’s Instant Oatmeal for breakfast.

Time does not crawl. It rushes and leaps. Suddenly I’m 86 and still wondering what I’ll be when I grow up.

Alan